[Released] The Terminator (1984) XTD

[Beber]

I watched it last night. I like this edit quite a bit. Reinstate Sarah's introduction, the T-101 leaving the murder scene with the terrified neighborhood, dying Traxler saying to Kyle to make sure Sarah lives, the scene where Sarah wants to go to Cyberdyne and then the final reveal that they actually were in a Cyberdyne factory that segues to T2, that's all good. I'm not sure the Disneyland/hot-dog scene is a welcome addition, though, as Kyle already had a meltdown just watching a flower, a river and green grass. Plus removing it would remove the obvious drop in quality in mid-shot. Another thing I don't think should be included is the tickle scene that jump-cuts to Sarah putting her shoes. These are happy moments and perspectives that don't match the tone of the movie. I think the Traxler moment works where you put it as they just listened to Kyle's whole story behind the window. Also, I wish you had used a better transfer for this project, like the old MGM Blu-ray that must have used the same dated master as the collector DVD, and make clean upscales for the deleted scenes, maybe color corrected to blend in better. I mean, from the start, the opening cards are wobbly, then there's a glitch on the HK shot, there are "comb" artefacts in some shots, you know, like an interlaced source not properly deinterlaced. There's a shift in aspect ratio before Kyle's lightning appearance in the alley. And finally, the last shot looks like a VHS was used to get rid of Harlan Ellison, and it shows: the end credits look terrible. I watched the deleted scenes in the bonus section of the Blu-ray, and they look quite good. I think they would blend in well after some tweaking in the old MGM HD master, and the whole thing would be more enjoyable to watch.

[Stamper]

Thanks, I'm currently playing with the Image encode, and I was thinking the same thing.

Maybe we don't need to incorporate each and every moment. True.

I will experiment with the old Blu-ray (prior to remaster) to see if the blend can work better.

I managed to convert the Image DVD lossless in h264 and I updated the files, it looks much better now.

I think the problems of jump cuts in the Image disc are baked into the transfert, will check it though.

For now please guys keep this version 1 for yourselves, I will have an upgraded one by next week when I get some more returns and recoup all remarks.

[Evit]

We could make a case that the cut we all know already works great but it's fun to finally see what it could have been before the trimming that Cameron did in order to obtain the final product, even if quality is limited, I wasn't expecting it to replace my official DVD and Blu-Ray just yet but it can easily become my go-to version in the future if it can be done in higher quality. But no pressure, I already appreciate that something like this was done, Stamper.
I, for example, like a lot more how the film cuts from "the wrong Sarah" scene to the real Sara at work, without the Terminator walking back to the car and leaving the crime scene, but it might be because I'm very familiar with how the original film is cut. If there a scene I would drop is that, Terminator walking to his car, but that's just me. I like all the others, Reese's reaction to "hot dogs" is a good laugh.

Also, now that I've watched it, you're right Stamper! The scene with Traxler wondering about the whole thing HAS to be placed after Sarah goes to sleep on the couch and not after Reese's interrogation. It matches with the map on the wall. In the room with the map on the wall and a door to its left (where they show Sarah the interrogation tape) Traxler tells Sarah that in the other room there's a comfortable couch (points in the direction of the door next to the map), the scene cuts to the other room where Sarah is placed on the couch and closes her eyes, cuts to the deleted scene where Traxler closes the door quietly (clearly because he doesn't want to disturb Sarah's sleeping) and he's back in the map room. Now Lance Henrikssen can continue talking freely about the "moon talk" that they had just rewatched on videotape and finally Traxler can show his doubts that couldn't show in front of Sarah before. That's the order it makes more sense.

[Stamper]

Yes also Traxler has ditched his vest by then, he gave it to Sarah to cover her when she sleeps.

I moved it and it works fine.

I managed to rip the Image DVD and convert it to H264 loosless, so now the whole thing looks much better.

Working on removing Ellison credit right now.

I think I may do two versions, one in 720p 1.1 with minor fixes and better picture.

One 2.0 1080p that keeps only the quality additionals scenes as Beber mentioned that makes for an extended edition and not workprint.

[Beber]

We could make a case that the cut we all know already works great

Oh, sure. It's a near perfect movie already. There's virtually nothing that NEEDS to be put back in. The only thing I wish Cameron had kept, though, is the final reveal the factory is Cyberdyne's.

[Evit]

Cyberdine reveal is great and should be officially reinserted in, considering that Cameron went on to make a successful sequel where this company is a key element.

[Stamper]

I agree, the Theatrical is great. I just like the curiosity of seeing a penultimate edit before he honed it. That makes for a fascinating, educating viewing on how to polish a film in the editing room (and with some retakes). I'm guessing he ditched Cyberdyne because that's a set up for a follow up and at the times, they didn't do film to set up trilogies or franchises. They just did the film, then the success dictated follow-ups. Now they think they are hot shit and do films that are just set ups for other films instead of telling one complete story.

[Beber]

Even without the sequel, Cyberdyne is already mentionned by Reese as the company behind Skynet where it all started, and since the time travel scenario makes the loop thing that actually creates the future they were trying to prevent, it's cool to realize the smashed Terminator was recovered by Cyberdyne to, we can assume, serve as prototype for the future. Even the 2 guys recovering the chip would be cool, except their acting ain't that great. So just the Cyberdyne logo reveal in front of the factory can suffice.

[MrBrown]

I just checked some of the scenes in v1. And they blend quite nice. I think I I won't have knew they were added, I wouldn't noticed at all.

[Beber]

I just checked some of the scenes in v1. And they blend quite nice. I think I I won't have knew they were added, I wouldn't noticed at all.

They do blend in quite well, even audiowise.